Jun
18
Los Al Council passes balanced budget for “dismal” 2009-2010
Filed Under City Budget, City Council, City Council Meetings | 1 Comment

(6/19/09, Los Alamitos) (updated Friday afternoon) The Los Alamitos City Council met at 3 p.m. today, Friday June 19th for a Special Meetingand unanimously passed what is described as a balanced budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 which begins in just 13 days.
Wish I could say the same for our state of California legislators.
How the budget was balanced
The plan offsets declines in revenue with a one-time transfer of $89,000 from the “garage fund” to the general fund, an 11 day furlough for City Union employees, additional cuts for a total of $800,00o in savings, and increased income from Verizon Wireless finally collecting the city’s Read more
May
2
Special Council Meeting @ 4 Monday on 2009-10 budget
Filed Under 2009 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 64 Comments
Will our Council ever get beyond the budget?
(Los Alamitos, 5/2/09, by Dave Emerson) Guess what?
The Los Alamitos City Council has another 2-3 hour Special Meeting scheduled at 4 before this Monday’s 7 p.m. regular meeting.
That’s actually down 33% from the three meetings our Mayor called two weekends ago, but I still don’t think anybody can complain about our Council not meeting enough.
What they do with all that time spent in meetings, however, is another matter. Read more
Feb
2
Your Thoughts & Comments on the 2/2 Council Meetings
Filed Under City Budget, City Council Meetings | 49 Comments

Constructive discussion is good.
(by Dave Emerson) We had a prior commitment tonight to take some good friends to the Ducks vs. Buffalo game, so I haven’t seen this afternoon or tonight’s Council meeting yet. But I’ll bet some of you have! In fact, according to the view of “One for Los Al” below, Troy Edgar and the majority are trying to “rewrite history.”
This is your chance to be the reporter and the commentator. After all, I can’t do this by myself. So click “more,” then give us your Read more
Feb
2
Where do you think our Council can save money?
Filed Under City Budget, City Council Meetings | 8 Comments

It's your money!
Monday afternoon update: The word from our city clerk is that the 4 p.m. workshop will be on LosAlTV. But there’s nothing like being there in person!
(by Dave Emerson) As reported in my prior post, the Los Alamitos City Council is meeting today in a workshop session on how to cut spending for the current fiscal year and next. With city staff projecting a $650,000 shortfall in income for the 7/1/08 – 6/30/09 fiscal year, this is a matter of some urgency.
We have a variety of readers on this community web site, and I’m wondering if you might have some insight into areas where significant savings could be realized. I know I’m opening the door to a number of jokes, and I’m all for constructive humor, but I’m mostly looking for serious ideas that would save serious money.
After all, if you live in Los Al, it’s your money!
Any ideas?
Please post your comments below. Read more
Jan
31
News Flash: Special Council Budget Session at 4 Monday!
Filed Under City Budget, City Council Meetings | 1 Comment

Is the J.F.T.B. Pool ever going to break even?
Monday afternoon update: The word from our city clerk is that the 4 p.m. workshop will be on LosAlTV. But there’s nothing like being there in person!
(by Dave Emerson) Turns out our City Council is being more proactive this Monday than I originally thought.
A special budget workshop session is set for 4:00 Monday afternoon, 2/2/09, to discuss projected shortfalls and proposed cuts for the current Fiscal Year, which runs from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. Initial budget planning for Fiscal Year 2009/10 will also be discussed.
Staff now anticipates a decrease of $653,730 in revenue for the current fiscal year (7/1/08 – 6/30/09) and is proposing cuts totaling Read more